COVID-19 Resources for Foundries

The content below will be updated as new information surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic becomes available. Please check back regularly, and watch for further coverage of this topic in future issues of the NFFS Notes and Industry Insider newsletters. If you have questions, contact Jerrod Weaver at (847) 299-0950.

NFFS Statement

Non-Ferrous Foundries Are Critical Infrastructure: A Statement by the Non-Ferrous Founders' Society (March 23, 2020)
The Non-Ferrous Founders’ Society (NFFS) recognizes the need for federal, state and local governments to implement policies that protect the American public from the risks of COVID-19. This includes limiting large gatherings of people, and requiring many workers to not report to work as normally scheduled, to help slow the spread of the virus and to ‘flatten the curve’ of the rate of infection. As many states begin to implement social controls that mandate non-essential workers in non-essential industries to stay at home, foundries are left with multiple conflicting statements regarding if they are essential and should continue to operate... Read the Full Statement

Information for Government Suppliers

DLA has created a Request for Information (RFI) available as of March 23, 2020, located at that it is encouraging suppliers to answer. This will help keep DLA informed of potential impacts to the welfare and safety of your workforce and/or overall contract performance. DLA will also use RFI responses to help assess the current status of the supplier base.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) remains committed to partnering with suppliers during this period of National Emergency. In the event that pre-award concerns arise, please continue to work with the point of contact annotated on the solicitation or other opportunity notice (e.g. beta.SAM.gov announcements). E-mail communication is highly encouraged. For post award matters, DLA requests submission of a Post Award Request (PAR) when possible. The PAR submission link is available on the main DIBBS Homepage under the Awards Block. DLA has created a new PAR reason code—VR 14 COVID-19—to highlight any contracts where problems may exist due to Coronavirus impacts.

Webinars

Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the closure of many non-essential businesses. Most foundries remain operational as we are considered a critical manufacturing industry according to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. Operating in the current environment presents its own unique set of challenges, however. This joint industry webinar hosted by NFFS and the Steel Founders' Society of America (SFSA) addresses the fundamentals of safe foundry operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar includes a review the OSHA guidance for employers and a special review of the answers to the most frequently asked questions by foundries.

Description: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) went into effect on April 1, 2020. This Federal Bill provides employees with emergency Paid Sick Time (PST) and Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML), as well as tax credits to employers for PST and PFML, to address immediate public health issues associated with COVID-19. There are many components to the Paid Sick Time and Paid Family Medical Leave, with overlaps to each of these elements as well as the interplay with the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other protected statuses. This joint industry webinar hosted by NFFS and the Steel Founders' Society of America (SFSA) addresses many of the questions posed by member foundries and the practical implementation of the FFCRA as an employer. As VP of HR and Safety for multiple foundries, Amy shares information about the fundamentals of this Act, mandatory posting and communications required, as well as some of the impacts on your business, potential exceptions if you have less than 50 employees, tax credits which may be available to you, and common questions you may have related to the application of the act from an HR practitioner’s perspective.

Description: The recent Coronovirus outbreak has caused significant problems for foundries. Many foundries use the N9-5 dust mask as part of their personal protective equipment (PPE) programs. Since the outbreak, N-95 respirators are virtually unavailable due primarily to the fact that the general public has bought all available inventory in hopes of protecting themselves from the virus. As a result, foundries have found themselves without the required supplies of N-95 respirators that they need to continue operations. If your foundry is requiring the use of N95 respirators but cannot get adequate supplies, there are options available! Given the industry wide impact and the rapid emergence of this issue, NFFS hosted this special webinar reviewing respirator program requirements with specific content addressing fit testing and medical surveillance requirements.

How Foundries are Dealing with COVID-19(May 1, 2020)
While non-ferrous foundries are deeply concerned about their employees’ health, it can be difficult to figure out HOW to comply with social distancing and other requirements...

The CARES Act: An Update for Small Businesses(April 3, 2020)
On March 31, the Small Business Administration released its sample application for the Paychecks Protection Program loan established in the recently passed COVID-19 CARES Act...

The N95 Dust Mask Shortage and Your Foundry(March 6, 2020)
The recent Coronovirus outbreak is causing significant problems for foundries. Many foundries use the N95 dust mask as part of their personal protective equipment (PPE) programs...